§ Mr. DILLONasked the Chief Secretary what have been the annual grants for building, enlarging, and endowing national schools in Ireland for the years from 1906–7 to 1910–11; what was the similar average for the five years preceding 1906–7; and what is the amount granted in this year's Estimates?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe total amount provided in the Estimates for building grants for national schools in Ireland for the five years beginning with 1906–7 was £230,000. The amount provided in the previous five years was £137,500. The amount in the Estimates for 1911–12 is £65,000.
§ Mr. DILLONasked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the statement in the Report of the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland for 1905–6 on the question of grants for building and improving schools; and seeing that in that Report the Commissioners declared that an annual grant of £100,000 for five years would be required to deal with the arrears which had accumulated in consequence of the practical suspension of grants for the previous four years, will he state what steps he proposes to take?
§ Mr. BIRRELLMy attention has been called to the statement in question. I have received an assurance that the sum of £240,000 which the Treasury undertook to provide for the purpose of building grants during the six years ending 31st March, 1913, will be substantially increased, and I shall be in a position to state the exact 1021 figures when the Vote for Public Education in Ireland is under discussion.
§ Mr. LONSDALEWhen will that be?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI hope at an early date.
§ Mr. LONSDALEBefore Whitsuntide?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI hope so.